Viatu’s Responsible Traveller Pledge
Written by Jess Tyrrell
Your experience as a traveller will be shaped as much by where you travel as how you travel, and most importantly, how you travel will shape the impact that you have on a destination and its people. While exploring places old and new, your behaviour and choices have significant and untapped potential to contribute to positive change.
To realise this, we invite you to sign Viatu’s Responsible Traveller pledge, a practical set of guidelines on how to best embrace sustainable travel principles. By committing to these principles prior to your departure you will become a voice for sustainable travel and leave a lasting positive impact and impression on your host country and communities.
I pledge to respect local culture and communities
Before you travel, study the history and culture of your destination.
Learn basic phrases in your destination’s local language.
Show respect for and interest in the local culture, dress appropriately, support and be kind to locals.
At sacred sites, be respectful and mindful of people who are there to worship.
Ask for permission before taking pictures of people.
Visit local restaurants and markets – your purchases boost the local economy and help preserve heritage.
I pledge to respect attractions and sites
When planning your activities, consider visiting lesser-known places – they will be less crowded and more rewarding than tourist hotspots.
Visit crowded and popular sites at off-peak hours, or in the off-season, to reduce your impact.
Respect the rules of the site, make sure to stick to marked paths, don’t climb on monuments or touch rock carvings and art.
Never take anything from a site,
I pledge to minimise my impact on the environment
Become part of the “slow travel” movement by visiting fewer places and spending more time at each.
When journeying through a destination, opt for low emission activities like walking, biking, taking public transport or hiking to reduce your carbon footprint.
Carry a reusable water bottle and coffee mug to refill, and carry tote bags for your purchases.
Turn off the lights, take shorter showers, and avoid single-use plastics.
Purchase local and seasonal produce.
Do not support unethical animal tourism, like wild animal petting, walking or riding or places that breed endangered animals.
Do not litter, rather pick it up.
So, in a nutshell – and to borrow a page from Palau – make sure you tread lightly, act kindly and explore mindfully. If acting locally while thinking globally sounds appealing to you, join us on an adventure.
